Rail-joint.



' No. s94,|22. 'Patented Feb. 25, |902.

- o. s. wnnLL.

A BAIL JOINT.

Y r 1 Y (Application mea Apr. 25.1901.) (No Model.)

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UNrrnn STATES PATENT OFFCE.

OLIVER s. WEDDELL oFMCKEnsPoRT, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAI L-JolNT.

LPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,122, dated February 25, 1902. l

Application tiled April 26, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, OLIVER'S. WEDDELL, a 'citizen of the United States of America, residingat McKeesport, in the countyof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, havev invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail- Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccom- .-a manner that when the same is properly ad- .justed to the desired position a wedging action of the {ish-plate will take place against lthe web of the rail, this being brought about by the peculiar construction of the fish-plate adjacent to the openings formed therein, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claim. y i

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speqiiication, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views `and in Which- Figure l is a side elevationv of my improved trail-joint applied inl position to the rails. Fig. is a similar view of the opposite side of the rails. Fig'. 3 is an end view thereof. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the locking fishplate, in which is formed the inclined groove.

Fig. G is an end view of the bolt. Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 8 is aperspective-view Aofthe U -shaped washer.

In the drawings the referece-nuineralsl indicate the rails, and 2 indicates v the ordi` f nary tishplate,arranged on one side of the.` rails, having elongated openings' formed therein. l p y 4 represents a locking {ish-plate having in- Serial llo. 57,548. (No model clined recesses 5 formed therein. In said recesses are slots 6. Said slots are round, as shown at 7, and terminate in the square opening S.

The reference-numeral 9 indicates notches formed in the base of the fish-plate to receive spikes 10, the latter serving as fastening' means and engaging the cross-ties 11. y

The reference-numeral12indioates thebolt oarryiug ahead 14, said bolt beingv formed of` isv as follows: The ordinary fish-plate 2 is applied to one side of the rails and th-ebolt applied in proper position, extending through the web of the rail and throughrthe opposite v ish-plate, the latter fish-plate 4. engaging the square shank 16 of the bolt,fand when the lockingiish-plate is moved laterally the shoulders of the heady 17 ride up on the inclined lface formed adjacent to the vopenings and produce a wedging action of the fish-platel against the web of the rail, which willsecurely lock the same inproper position. locking `fish-plate is then-spiked tothe crossties in the usual and well-known manner. The U-shaped washer may be applied `when The" desired to take up any lost motion that may be found inthe construction. y The many advantages obtained by-theuse of my improved rail-joint will be readily apparent from the foregoing description takenv in lconnection with the accompanying draw ings, and it will be noted that variouschangesz may bemade in the detailsof construction withoutl'departng from the general spirit of `my invention.

Having fully described my iuventioln,lwhat" I-Claim as new,andide`sire to secure by Lamm-S l Patent, is-` v Y I n a rail-joint, the'combination offish-plates having oblong openings formedrtherein, one

ot' said lish-plates` having its outer face provided yvv'ithreeesses the walls of which incline` toward the engaging face ot' the iish-plate, with elongated slots extending throughlthe fish-plate With a rounded opening intermediate to ends of the slot, of'bolts, a head on one end thereof, a portion of the shank being square and a portion round, a head on said square portion, the said square portion of the bolt adapted to engage in the elongated slot and be prevented from turning, the head on Said square portion engaging theinelined wall whereby the fish-plate is moved laterally and Wedges the bolt, and Ushaped Washers adapted to engage between the heads of the bolts onI the other end and the other fish-plate, substantially as described. 1o

In testimony Whereot` I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

OUVER S. WEDDELL. Witnesses:

JOHN NOLAND, E. E. POTTER. 

